Diverter valve

ABSTRACT

A diverter valve mechanism for selectively controlling the discharge of water from a faucet. There is a movable diverter valve which is manually actuated to effect diversion of the normal water flow from a faucet through a filter, from which the filtered water is returned to the faucet. The movable diverter valve is held by water pressure in the position for diverting water to the filter, as long as the manually operated faucet valve remains open. Upon closing of the manually operated faucet valve, spring pressure acts on the movable diverter valve to automatically return the movable diverter valve to the normal position whereat the unfiltered water is discharged from a faucet nozzle. A spring aids in moving the movable diverter valve to the normal position. There is a separate discharge nozzle for the discharge of filtered water.

United States Patent [151 3,690,565 [451 Sept. 12,1972

Abos

[ DIVERTER VALVE [72] Inventor: Ralph L. Abos, Whittier, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Ecom-Systems, lnc., Reno, Nev.

[22] Filed: Jan. 7, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 104,659

[52] US. Cl. ..239/447, 239/4285, 137/6255 [51] Int. Cl. ..B05b 1/14[58] Field of Search ..l37/625.25, 625.5; 239/442-448, 428.5

[56] References Cited I UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,942,622 6/1960 Hahn eta1. ..l37/625.5

2,043,668 6/1936 Kohler ..l37/625.5

3,030,029 4/1962 Slater, Jr. ..239/25 3,288,376 11/1966 Lovell..'.....239/428.5

3,223,122 12/1965 Banker ..l37/625.5 X

2,935,084 5/1960 Crawford et al.'...137/625.5 X

2,848,721 8/1958 Fredrickson ..239/447 X Primary Examiner-M. HensonWood, Jr. Assistant Examiner-John J. Love Attorney-J. Carroll Baisch[57] ABSTRACT on the movable diverter valve to automatically return themovable diverter valve to the normal position whereat the unfilteredwater is discharged from a faucet nozzle. A spring aids in moving themovable diverter valve to the normal position. There is a separatedischarge nozzle for the discharge of filtered water.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PAIENTEDSEPIz I912 3.690.565

a m4 Wi /o4 F 5e 4 4. m8 1 I EN R, M2 01726 1.. #605.

DIVERTER VALVE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 Field of the Invention Thisinvention relates generally to fluid diverter valves and relates, moreparticularly, to diverter valves for liquids, such as water.

2. Description of the Prior Art There are various kinds of apparatus forproviding filtered and/ or softened water in a water system. One type ofapparatus filters all of the water all of the time, although in manyplaces in a household the normal unconditioned water may be used but,with the system just mentioned, there cannot be a switch between thenormal unfiltered or unconditioned water and conditioned or filteredwater.

Another type of apparatus may be detachably attached to the usualdischarge nozzle when it is desired to have soft or conditioned water.Such an arrangement is not always satisfactory and when the device isnot needed it is necessary to remove same and store it. Often there isno convenient storage space for such a device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention comprises a faucet, receivingwater from a supply pipe. The faucet has a discharge nozzle from whichthe normal water from the supply pipe is discharged. There is, also, aseparate nozzle for the discharge of conditioned or filtered water.Within the faucet body there is a chamber in which a movable valvemember, shown as a ball, is disposed, the ball being movable between anormal seat so that the water from the supply pipe flows through thevalve chamber and, thence, to the discharge nozzle for discharging suchconditioned or filtered water.

As long as the main valve controlling flow to the faucet from the watersupply conduit or pipe is open, the ball valve will remain in theposition for diverting water to the filter.

It is to be noted that, after the plunger has moved the ball valve tothe diverting position, the pressure of water in the valve chamber willmove the plunger to its normal, inoperative position. When the valvecontrolling the flow of water through the main supply conduit or pipe isclosed, a spring unseats the ball valve and moves same to the oppositeseat, where it is maintained by a spring.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the inventionto provide a faucet, incorporating a diverter valve therein, movable toa diverting position by a simple plunger arrangement.

It is another object of the invention to provide a faucet, or apparatus,wherein the plunger is moved to its normal, inoperative position bywater pressure.

It is still another object of the invention to provide apparatus of thischaracter wherein a movable diverter valve is maintained in thediverting position by water pressure.

It is a further object of the invention to provide apparatus of thischaracter wherein the movable diverter valve remains in the divertingposition, as long as water is supplied from a supply conduit.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide apparatus ofthis character wherein a spring moves the movable valve member to thenormal position when the flow of water from the water supply conduit iscut off.

Another object of the invention is -to provide apparatus of thischaracter having a separate discharge nozzle for discharging conditionedor filtered water from a filter to which water has been diverted.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention are furthersufficiently referred to in connection with the following detaileddescription of the accompanying drawings,'which represent oneembodiment. After considering this example, skilled persons willunderstand that many variations may be made without departing from theprinciples disclosed andl contemplate the employment of any structures,arrangements or modes of operation that are properly within the scope ofthe appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to the drawings, which arefor illustrative purposes only:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of apparatus embodying the presentinvention with portions shown in section to show the interiorconstruction thereof, the movable valve member being shown in the normalposition and the plunger for moving said movable ball valve, or member,being in the normal, inoperative position;

FIG. 2 is a similar view of the interior of the apparatus, showing theball valve member in the diverting position and the plunger in thenormal inoperative position;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring more particularly tothe drawings, there is shown, FIG. 1, a water supply conduit or pipe 10having a connection with a source of water such as, for example, a citywater supply system, there being a valve 12 for controlling the flow ofwater through said conduit. The supply conduit 10 has a downturned end14 with an externally threaded portion 16 on which the upper end of avalve body 18 is screwed, there being an O-ring 20 which provides a sealbetween the end of the conduit and the bottom of an inlet chamber 22.

Within the valve body 18 there is a valve chamber 24 having a laterallyextending spring chamber 26. Spring chamber 26 is closed at its outerend by a wall which is part of the valve body. At the opposite open endof the spring chamber 26 there is a valve seat 28.

The valve chamber has an extension with a tapped outer end portion 32 inwhich is threadably received an externally threaded portion 34 of aplunger guide 36. The plunger guide has a valve seat 40 at its innerend, said valve seat 40 being in axial alignment with the valve seat 28and spaced therefrom. Plunger guide 36 has an external flange 42,between which and an inwardly extending flange 44 is a gasket 46 whichprovides a seal between the plunger guide and the valve body. An annularexternal groove 48 is provided in the plunger guide for reception of aseal 50, shown as an O- ring, to provide a second seal between theplunger guide and the valve body.

Plunger guide 36 has a longitudinally extending bore 52 from which thereis a cross bore 54 which communicates with a passage 56 which, in turn,communicates with the interior of a conduit 58 which has a connection 60with the inlet of a water conditioner and/or filter, the connection 60being a hose or other suitable conduit. 1

' Downstream of the valve seat 28 there is an outlet passage 64 from thespring chamber to an outlet chamber 66, there being an aerator 68 havinga part 70 screwed into a tapped outlet portion 72 downstream of thechamber 66. The aerator is of any well-known type on the market.

A plunger 76 is slidably disposed in the bore 52 of the plunger guide,said plunger having an inner end part 78 normally disposed adjacent aball valve 80 in the valve chamber. The ball 80 comprises a movablevalve. member held on a seat 40 by spring 82 in the spring chamber 26.Plunger 76 has an annular groove 84 defined at the inner slide by aflange 86, from which there is an inwardly extending, reduced diameterbody portion 88 which extends through a valve stem return stop 90 whichis secured in the bore 52 by any suitable means, such as, for example,brazing or the like. The reduced diameter part 88 of the plunger extendsinwardly beyond the valve stem return stop, and the part 78 is disposedon the inner end of said plunger by means of press-fitting, brazing, orthe like. Part 78 has an annular, radially extendingflange 93 adapted toengage the valve stem return stop and, thereby, limit outward movementof the plunger underthe influence of pressure in the valve chamber 24.

A conduit 96 carries conditioned and/r filtered water from the filter toa passage 98 which leads to a chamber 100. A filtered water spout 102 isdisposed in a bore 104 in which anupper end portion 106 of the filteredwater spout 102 is secured by press-fitting, brazing, or other suitablemeans. -Within the water spout 102 there is a flow rectifier 108.

Normally, the plunger is at its outer position, shown in F IG. 1, andthe movable ball valve member 80 is held on the seat 40 by the spring82.

I Normal, unconditioned water is secured by opening a valve 12 of thewater supply conduit 10, this water flowing into the valve chamber 24 byway of a passage 110. From the chamber 24 the water will flow into thespring chamber 26, thence through passage 64 and into chamber 66. Fromthe chamber 66 the water will flow through the aerator 68, from which itis discharged.

Should conditioned and/or filtered water be desired, the outer headedend 114 is pushed inwardly, thereby pushing the movable ball valve 80 tothe right to seat it on the valve seat 28 against the force of thespring 82. Water pressure on the leftward side of the ball valve 80 Vwill maintain the ball valve on the seat 28 against the force of thespring 82, as long as water is supplied from the conduit to said chamber24. The water pressure in this part of chamber 24 will also act on theflange 86 of the plunger and force said plunger to its outermostposition, whereat the flange 92 abuts against the valve stem returnstop. It is to be noted that water from the chamber 24 at the left sideof the ball valve 80 when the latter is seated on the valve seat 28 willflow through an annular passage 116 between the part 88 of the plungerand the interior opening of the valve stem return stop.

With the ball valve seated on the seat 28, water will flow from thechamber 24 through the passage 56 and conduit 58 to the water filter orconditioning device and will return by way of the conduit 96 and chamber100, from whence it will be discharged by wayof the filtered water spout102.

To cut off the flow of filtered and/or conditioned water the valve 12 isclosed, whereupon the'spring 82 will move the ball valve member onto theseat 40, so that unfiltered and/or unconditioned water will flow throughthe normal path above described and be discharged from the aerator 68,or from the chamber 66, should the aerator be removed.

Thus, the present invention provides a pressure valve system. Theplunger is returned to its normal position by water pressure and themovable valve member or ball is retained on its diverter seat by waterpressure. The spring returns the free floating valve member or ball toits normal position when the water supply to the apparatus is cut off.

The arrangement also eliminates variables in seal drag and,.by having aseparate nozzle or water spout, back pressure created by the aeratordoes not affect proper operation of the apparatus.

The invention and its attendant advantages will be understood from theforegoing description and it will be apparent that various changes maybe made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts of theinvention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, orsacrificing its material advantages, the embodiment hereinbeforedescribed being merely for the purpose of illustration.

lclaim:

l. Diverter valve apparatus comprising:

a body having a valve chamber for a movable valve member, there being afluid inlet to said chamber for supplying fluid under pressure to saidchamber;

an inlet valve for controlling the flow of fluid into said chamber;

a pair of fluid outlets for said chamber;

separate discharge spouts for said fluid outlets;

a valve seat for one of said outlets;

a second seat for the other of said outlets;

a movable valve member in said valve chamber, said valve member beingmovable between said valve seats;

yielding means for yieldingly urging said movable valve member to anormal position seating on the first mentioned valve seat to cut off theflow of fluid from said valve chamber through said valve seat when theinlet valve is closed said valve member remaining on said firstmentioned valve seat until moved to the other valve seat;

and a manually operable plunger separate from the movable valve memberfor moving said movable valve member into seating engagement with saidsecond valve seat to cut off the flow of fluid through the second valveseat, said movable valve member being maintained on the second seat byfluid pressure in said chamber when the inlet valve is open sufficientlyto provide fluid pressure in said chamber greater than the force of theyielding said device and be conditioned when the ball valve member isseated on the second valve seat the conditioned fluid being dischargedat the outlet of said fluid conditioning device, said outlet of theconditioning device being connected with one of the discharge spouts.

4. The invention define by claim 3, including means for limiting fluidpressure actuated movement of the plunger to its normal, inoperativeposition.

1. Diverter valve apparatus comprising: a body having a valve chamberfor a movable valve member, there being a fluid inlet to said chamberfor supplying fluid under pressure to said chamber; an inlet valve forcontrolling the flow of fluid into said chamber; a pair of fluid outletsfor said chamber; separate discharge spouts for said fluid outlets; avalve seat for one of said outlets; a second seat for the other of saidoutlets; a movable valve member in said valve chamber, said valve memberbeing movable between said valve seats; yielding means for yieldinglyurging said movable valve member to a normal position seating on thefirst mentioned valve seat to cut off the flow of fluid from said valvechamber through said valve seat when the inlet valve is closed saidvalve member remaining on said first mentioned valve seat until moved tothe other valve seat; and a manually operable plunger separate from themovable valve member for moving said movable valve member into seatingengagement with said second valve seat to cut off the flow of fluidthrough the second valve seat, said movable valve member beingmaintained on the second seat by fluid pressure in said chamber when theinlet valve is open sufficiently to provide fluid pressure in saidchamber greater than the force of the yielding means on said valvemember and said plunger being returned to its normal inoperativeposition by fluid pressure in said chamber upon release thereof uponmoving of the movable valve member onto the second valve seat.
 2. Theinvention defined by Claim 1, wherein the movable valve member comprisesa ball valve.
 3. The invention defined by claim 2, including a fluidconditioning device; and means connecting the outlet having the firstvalve seat with the inlet of said fluid conditioning device, wherebyfluid will flow through said device and be conditioned when the ballvalve member is seated on the second valve seat the conditioned fluidbeing discharged at the outlet of said fluid conditioning device, saidoutlet of the conditioning device being connected with one of thedischarge spouts.
 4. The invention define by claim 3, including meansfor limiting fluid pressure actuated movement of the plunger to itsnormal, inoperative position.